UK broadcaster ITV and distributor All3Media International announce that they have commissioned Midsomer Murders for a 26th series. The 4-episode commission will bring the number of episodes available to 148 of the prime-time detective series.
Executive produced by Michele Buck and commissioned by ITV’s Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones, with All3Media International, series 26 will invite viewers back to the English countryside for four new feature-length mysteries. Starring Neil Dudgeon as DCI Barnaby and Nick Hendrix as his trusted sidekick DS Winter, the series will also see the return of Annette Badland as pathologist Dr Fleur Perkins and Fiona Dolman as Barnaby’s wife, Sarah.
Produced by Bentley Productions for ITV, UK, and All3Media International, Midsomer Murders is based on Caroline Graham’s Chief Inspector Barnaby book series. Filming for series 25 was completed this summer in and around the Home Counties.
ITV’s Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones says: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Midsomer with Barnaby and Winter. Series 26 promises to deliver four brilliant brand new cases for the legion of Midsomer Murders fans to enjoy.”
Executive producer Michele Buck adds, “We are so pleased to be able to bring viewers more tales from the fascinating world of Midsomer Murders with this series 26 commission.”
Louise Pedersen, CEO of All3Media International, noted: “Midsomer Murders is a brand that continues to resonate with fans both globally and here in the UK. It’s a show whose repeatable loyalty factor enables us to position the series on various platforms – from PSBs to AVOD and FAST – and increase the series’ reach to new audiences. We’re thrilled that we have now passed the 25th series landmark and look forward to Bentley delivering Season 26 in 2026.”
In the UK, all episodes of Midsomer Murders are available for streaming on a dedicated FAST channel on ITVX, which is part of ITV’s online service. Midsomer Murders is the most-watched FAST channel on ITVX since the channel launched. Also cited as the biggest UK detective drama export for many years, Midsomer Murders continues to be a ratings winner around the world. A top-three show in many territories, including Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltics, the series is still active in nearly 200 territories.
The show also has its own single IP FAST channel across North America, a range of merchandise, and it will make its stage debut in the UK later this year, with a theatrical version of the show’s first episode, “The Killings of Badgers Drift”. Additionally, in celebration of the series returning for a 25th Season, the current cast of Midsomer Murders (Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Annette Badland, Fiona Dolman) will at attending MIPCOM in Cannes from 13th -14th October with All3Media International.
Furthermore, All3Media International is planning to expand the Midsomer Murders licensing programme throughout 2025/2026, which already includes an interactive novel by Octopus Books and a casual gaming app from Qiiwi Interactive. The show’s first podcast also launched last year – the twenty-episode Midsomer Murders Mayhem is hosted by Nicki Chapman, produced by StoryHunter, and distributed by AudioBoom.
